As your round the Corner on 5th Ave. (at 49th) , in the heart Of Manhattan….you’ll find a place where magic and inspiration is palpable in the air. A place where goals are set, a place where young girls {and those young at heart} are inspired to be the very best that they can be, a place where dreams come true…American Girl Place.

This past weekend our visit to American Girl Place began on the 3rd Floor in the Cafe. The menu options in the Cafe offered something for every one's tastes (see sample menu options HERE note: menu selection varies by location). For one all inclusive price you are served (when seated for dinner)b everages,starters, an entree of your choice and dessert (party packages are also available)!

And of course they've included the doll's in the fun! A chic pink doll sized chair (that attaches to the table - pictured below), and doll tea service are also provided for your child's doll (pictured below). The dining experience in the cafe is simply delightful, from start to finish. Delicious food, gorgeous presentation, and the cheerful service make for one memorable dining experience!

After our meal we headed off to the American Girl Photo Studio (located on the 3rd floor across from the Cafe), where our daughter participated in her very own American Girl Magazine Cover Shoot with her doll! The photo was then applied to the cover of the current month's issue of American Girl Magazine; the perfect way to commemorate the day!

Our next stop was the Doll Salon (located on the second floor)! The Doll Salon (complete with doll sized salon chairs and several hair stylists) offers a variety of hair styles to choose from, ranging in price from $10-$20 (several new styles available for 2012), and Doll Ear Piercing (priced at $14). We chose the ear piercing service. They pierce the doll's ears with a signature pair of silver star earrings, and also send your doll home with a box of earrings which includes 3 pairs of stud earrings, and 3 pairs of dangle earrings (all included with the $14 +tax cost of ear piercing!).

(ABOVE VIDEO: Our Day At American Girl Place NYC, January 2012)

After having McKenna's ears pierced we browsed (starry eyed) through the various areas of American Girl Place. Spanning 3 stories (3 full floors!) you'll find every conceivable accessory, outfit, and play set to complete each American Girl doll's world! Browsing through all of the Historical Doll showcases, my daughter and I marveled at all the period fashions, authentic accessories, and corresponding play sets for the dolls. Each doll really does reveal so much about the lives of young women from generations past!

As a child I too adored American Girl. Though the company was brand new at that time, I will never forget pouring over the pages of my very first American Girl Book or the rush of tearing back the wrapping paper from the box of my American Girl Doll (Samantha) on Christmas morning! It has been incredibly heartwarming to watch my own daughter fall in love with this cherished line of Dolls and stories, just as I did so many years ago.

American Girl Place in New York City, is trulyan experience like no other,and is surely one that will be remembered fondly for a lifetime!

Experience the magic of American Girl! We're

giving away an 18" 2012 American Girl Of The Year McKenna Doll (also includes McKenna book by Mary Casanova ) (RV$105!)

OH my gosh, I found the loft bed to be super cool! Love the colors too for my 6 yr old grand daughter. She has been hoping for an American Girl doll for a couple years by mom and dad said she is not ready to "care" for one til now! This loft would be so cool too!

My grandaughter who is six loves the McKenna American Girl doll. She loves her gym clothes and her pjs and also her beam. she has never had an American Girl Doll before but has seen the magazine and has asked Santa. She says that she wants to wear her hair just like McKenna.

I am most excited about McKenna's rain gear but I love the colors of all of her stuff. It matches perfectly with the butterfly decals I chose for my daughters bedroom and her sheets too. I always wanted Samantha when I was little but I never got her so I am praying for the chance to get McKenna and live vicariously through my daughters love of her babydolls. Even as we left the house today to get away from the cold and power outage she had a little conversation with one of her dolls and gave it a hug which was soo cute

I am most excited about McKenna's rain gear but I love the colors of all of her stuff. It matches perfectly with the butterfly decals I chose for my daughters bedroom and her sheets too. I always wanted Samantha when I was little but I never got her so I am praying for the chance to get McKenna and live vicariously through my daughters love of her babydolls. Even as we left the house today to get away from the cold and power outage she had a little conversation with one of her dolls and gave it a hug which was soo cute ~ Jessi Lynne Goodman